Bram's No Garlic Crunchy Calamari

By Bram Marvail 12/16/2023

Ingredients:

Egg Mixture:

• 3 eggs
• 3 Tbs milk
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tsp smoked paprika

Calamari Marinade:

• 2 lemons worth of juice
• 1 lb. calamari tubes sliced into half inch rings

Panko:

• 1 8 oz. can of plain panko bread crumbs

Flour Mixture:

• 1 Tbs cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbs freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tbs salt
• 1 Tbs red chili flakes
• 1 Tbs smoked paprika
• 1 c all purpose flour
• 2 lemons worth of zest

For Frying:

• Digital cooking thermometer
• 3 cups canola oil (or until there's roughly 2 inches deep worth of oil in the pot)

Directions:

1. Juice and zest the lemons and places to the side.
2. Slice the calamari tubes into ½ inch rings and place into a small bowl.
3. Pour the lemon juice into the bowl with the calamari rings and let marinate for 30 minutes.
4. While waiting, in a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, cayenne pepper, freshly ground black pepper, salt, chili flakes, and smoked paprika to create the egg mixture. 
5. In another separate bowl, create the flour mixture. Combine the cayenne pepper, freshly ground black pepper, salt, red chili flakes, all purpose flour, smoked paprika, and lemon zest.
6. In another separate bowl, pour in the panko bread crumbs.
7. In a medium sauce pan, heat the canola oil to 350 F. 
8. Coat the calamari rings (a few at a time but keep separated from each other) in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the panko bread crumbs and gently place into the hot oil. (Make sure the rings are evenly coated in each of the mixtures).
9. Fry until golden brown (1-2 minutes).
10. Place on a plate with a paper towel to collect the excess oil. 
11. Serve hot and delicious.

Yum